Convertible article of furniture



y 7, 1953 H. POLLACK ET AL 2,644,506

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 25, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 120 INVENTORS FIG. I. HYMA/V POLLACK 1 DA v/o BRA/VD ATTORN EY y 7, 1953POLLACK ETAL 2,644,506

CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE OF FURNITURE Filed April 25, 1950 s Sheets-Shet 2 ifms w INVENTORS H YMA/V POLLA CK DA V/D BRA ND BY M ATTORN EY y 7,1953 H.POLLACK Em 2,644,506

' v CONVERTIBLE ARTICLE -OF FURNITURE Filed April 25, 1950 sSheets-Sheet 5' INVENTORS HYMAN POLLACK DA V/D BRA ND ATTORNEY 1 memberreleasabiy sec Patented July 7, I953 wrist UNITED. ISTATE'S PATENT 'QFF'I-CE l ICONVEBTIIBLEARTICLE'OFFURNITURE t ii'ymaarouiicmkingsCounty,-andlDavid Brandy 1 I Bronx 'countygt-N. Y.

Application April 25:, 1950; Serial Nb.'157',894

This invention relates to" convertible articies of furniture, moreparticularly to a combination table and superstructuresupport. 1

independently usable. And" inthisaspect of our invention it' isanobject, ma-preferred form thereof, to enableth'e superstructuremember-to support a high-chair;'and'the'table'membertobe'revolvable' andadapted for operative association with" a baby tendr o'r seat; wherebythe" invention may serveas a convertible'juvenil'e' a'rticleoffurniturek. i h It is a further objectof this invention' to providethe'understruct' 'f "revolvabl'e table 7 re 1 t r i fe positions;so-t'hatonefside of thetabl' may con tain a writi'ng or-play' surface ad theijopposite side a-ffeedingisurface, both sides'beingieinp'loy ablehori'zonta fositi'onsj'and the face-being positionable at ticir; Inthis" aspect-of our inventio I I oth'enobject-to pr'c'i'viileeasiiym'anipulable releas= able lockingm'ean's for firmlyflmaintaining j the"table membera selectedf on eof said "positions; Another object {ofourfinvention" is the proe 'f vision ofmeans'forjenabling?the-superstructure to be readily'an'd"firm1y*attached to and-"quickly detached from -theunderstructure.in"this" aspect of this-inventionfit" isfa; further object" to-provide=automaticlocking means for connectmg the -"siiper'structure t' the'understructureiso thatboth hands-"maybe r'e to manipulate-'thsuperstructure in-to position? It is assas ob= f ject of this inventionto provid convenient hand: 5 gripping mear sg for enablingthesuperstructure member to berea'dil grasped"foi -assembly -anddisassembly-L i v I It '-'isfurther- Withi out contemplation to em ploy'hand gripping means' on 'the nuclei-struc lay sur ture :botnto'enhancer-the aesthetic appearance ofthe-:- device, and: providezianefiective anchoring means for' maintaining'sthe tablez m'ember in-itsinclinedposition.

Another object ot-iourrinvention: is-: to: maintairi thetable-memberpwhen in either of-its hori+ ofan' infant seated inthebaby-tender will be free-for positionin under the table. Still anotherobject is to enable the understructure member't'o be'exten'dedrearwardly-a-nd adapted 'for supporting a baby seat rearwardlyand=substantially a-t'the' level of the table, so

that a child in said seat may conveniently-use the table for play-orfeeding.

" Gtherobjects, features and: advantages will appear from the drawing?and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure-'l'is aside elevation ofa preferred form Figure 4 isa'fragmentarysection-of Figure 1- taken along line 4- 4; the" releasablestop means for the upper and 'lowersections being shown in' lockedposition;

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4-, but with the stop member in retractedposition.

Figure 6' is aperspective View of the locking element of Figures4 and-5.

Figure 'T- is a perspective view of the understructure section of ourinvention; showing the table locked in onehorizonta'l position.

Figure 8'is a fragmentary plan View of the corner of Figure? showing thetable-retractable locking member in locked position.

Figure 9 is asection of Figure-8 along line 9-9: Figure l0'is a'planView of the understructure" ofour invention with the table member shownreversed with respect to Figure 7.

Figure 1 1 is aside View of the understructure, showing the table in itsinclined position, portions being broken'away for'clarity;

Figure: 12 is a side'v-iew of the understructure' portlon" of ourinvention. inextendedcondition,

trated; the device comprises an understructure generally designated asI5 in interlocking engagement with a superstructure generally idesignat'ed as It; shown, the:

In the particular embodiment superstructure has operativelymountedthereona chair member H, so that the locking means.

' 3 entire device in its assembled form constitutes a high chair. It isunderstood, however, that instead of the chair ll any other suitabledevice may be supported by the superstructure H5.

The understructure comprises two inverted U- shaped leg members i9 andis, member [8 consisting of front leg 20, rear leg 2! and lateralconnecting bar 22, and leg member 19 consists of front leg 23, rear leg25 and lateral connecting bar 25. Attached to the inner'surfaces of legmembers [3 and 19 are the rail members generally designated 25 and 21,containing the parallel rails 28 and 29 respectively, joined by the rearbar 35, the forward portions of said rail members containing the handgripping loops 3| and 32, respectively. Loop 31 contains the downwardlyextending arcuate section 33 and the rearwardly extending lower section34; and loop 32 contains the downwardly extending arcuate section 35 andthe rearwardly extending section 35. In the preferred structureillustrated, the rails 28 and 29 are connected to the lateral bars 22and 25 of the leg members by strips 37 and 38 either soldered, welded orotherwise attached thereto; and it is also preferred that the loops 3:and 32 be attached to legs 29 and 23 respectively, at theirintersections.

Pivotly mounted at 39 and 39a. of the rails 28 and 29, and disposedtherebetween, is the table 40, the rear connecting bar 39 of the railsbeing disposed behind the table. In the form of our inventionillustrated, the upper surface 4| of the table (Figure 10) contains anordinary fiat surface which may be used for feeding or other purposes;and the opposite side of the table 42 (Figure 7) contains a slate wallor other writing surface. As will be noted, the table is revolvable intothree operative positions, Figures '7 and 10 showing two reversepositions thereof, and Figure 11 showing an inclined position.

The table is maintained in any of its three said operative positions bymeans of releasable One corner 43 of the table contains an aperturedportion 54 within which is slidably mounted the elongated retractableelement 45 carrying the knob 45 for manual manipulation; and at the rearof element 45 is the spring 47 normally urging element 45 outwardly sothat it may enter one of three apertured portions in the adjacent railmember 25. Two of said apertures are on the rail 26, the front one being48 and the rear one 4-9; and the third of said apertures 56 is disposedon the lower rearwardly extending section 34. The arrangement is hencesuch that upon a manual retraction of element 45, the table 45 may beswung into any one of the three positions, the table being releasablylocked in one of said three apertures 48, 49 or 59.

It is preferred that the foremost portions of loops 3! and 32 bedisposed forwardly of the front edge of the table, so as to facilitategrasping said loops when it is desired to move the structure, or to holdit while the table is being operatably manipulated. It is alsopreferred. that the thickness of table 49 be less than the diameters ofthe rails 28 and 29, and that the table be mounted centrally upon said.bars so that the uppermost surfaces of the rails will be above theopposite surfaces of the table when it is in either of its twohorizontal positions. As will more clearly hereinafter appear, this willkeep the table at all times spaced from the superstructure when it isoperatively mounted upon the rails (Figure 3), there being a space 52between the table and the base of the superstructure. It is alsopreferred that the lateral bars 22 and 25 of the leg members be disposedabove the rails 28 and 29, thereby providing lateral supports againstwhich the superstructure can slidably move when being operativelyassembled thereon, as will hereinafter appear.

The superstructure comprises the base portion 53 consisting of the twoside bars- 54 and 55 connected together by the rear connecting bar 56(Figures 1, 2 and 3), the forward portions of the side bars 54 and 55being respectively connected to hand gripping portions 51a. and 51,these respectively comprising the loops 58 and 59 and the upper inwardlyextending supports 69 and 6|, the latter being preferably horizontal anddisposed inwardly relative to the side bars 54 and 55. The said supports60 and 61 are adapted to support some upper article, such as the chairH, by suitable fasteners.

The lateral bars 22 and 25 of the leg members have mounted thereon twoinwardly extending guiding elements 62 and 63 respectively, these beingpreferably, although not necessarily, cylindrical members, said membersbeing spaced above the respective rails 28 and 29. The distance betweenelement 62 and rail 28, and between element 63 and rail 29, ispreferably such as to permit the base bars 54 and 55 of thesuperstructure to slidably move therebetween, as clearly shown in Figure3. Hence, in operatively placing the superstructure into interlockingengagement with the understructure, the side bars 54 and 55 are placedupon rails 28 and 23 at a point forwardly of the guiding elements 62 and63, and slid rearwardly into interlocking engagement.

The device is further provided with stop means for stopping the forwardor rearward movement of the superstructure upon the understructure, andreleasably locking it in said predetermined assembled position. Saidstop means, in the preferred form illustrated, comprises (see Figures 4,5 and 6) an elongated element 64 extending through the rail 28 andproportioned to enter the aperture 65 in the base bar 54. Disposed belowand in abutting engagement with the head of element 64 is the spring 66positioned within the rail 28, the lower portion of element 64 havingfixably mounted thereon the cam knob 61 containing thereon the camsurface 68. In the position shown in Figure 5, the highest point of thecam surface is in engagement with the under side of rail 28, therebycausing a downward retraction of element 64 and its withdrawal fromaperture 65. In this position, the superstructure can readily be made toslide over the rail. Upon a rotation of knob 61 through an angle of thelowest portion of the cam surface 68 comes into engagement with theunder side of rail 29, thereby permitting the locking element 64 toenter the aperture 65, and effect an interlocking of the rail 28 and bar54. When this occurs it is obvious that the superstructure cannot moverelative to the understructure unless the interlocking engagement isreleased by operatively manipulating the knob 61.

The arrangement is hence such that the hands are left free to grasp theloops 58 and 59 of the superstructure and manipulate it slidably uponthe understructure, since the cam knob 61 will frictionally maintainitself in its unlocked position after it had been moved thereto.

It will also be observed'that the loops 3| and 32 of the understructureand the loops 58 and 59 of the superstrueture extend' iir oppositedii'ec tions and together form an aestlieticaily attrac tive design;yet, in additiont'o their ornamentalvalue; they serve the utilitarianpurposes here- In thepreferred form of- 'our invention,thela-teralconnecting bars -22- and" Z d-consist of 'two sections intelescopic engagement, the front' sece tions 59- and 10, and the rearsectionsdl an the joints of said sections being disposed in theregion-ofthe-strips-3-1-and 38-; The arrangement ishence such that therear-portion of'the leg" members can be extended backwardly to the-posi'-* tion' shown in Figures 12 and 13':- In thisposition, the chairmember 1a cad-be" operatively" sup ported on -sa-idrea-r portions' oftheleg membersfj: the'hooks-M and 15" being supported on bars-1 F and" 12;and the hooked portion" Id-beingcsup ported on the rear bar 11connecting thetwo'" rearl'egs of the structure; I

In'the position shown in Figures l2"and-I3-, a baby maybe seated on thechair-'13; a'nddisp'osled rearwardly of the-table, so that the tablemay" be employed either for'feeding purposes', or asa play surface.Since the chair isdisposedb'elow the table; and since there are noobstructingele ments disposedin front of" the; chair, it is ob vious'that the childs legs "may 'freelybedisposed belowthe table.-

It is thus apparent that' our invention for a convertible article of'furn'it urehas several uses. It maycombinativelybe used as anattractive article offurnituresuchas a'high chair: it may" be readilyconverted, by' simple manual manipfu' lation, into a play' table withthetable' portion movable to oneof three 'diiferent positions; or

itmay be used as an extended table with a babytender' attachedf In theabove description, the invention has been disclosed merely by wayofexample-and in pre: ferred manner; but obviously many variations andmodifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore,that. the invention is not limited to any specific" form or manner ofpracticing same, exceptinsofar-- as such limitations are specified inthe appended claims.

We claim: 3

1. In a convertible article-of furniturtayi an understructure and asuperstructure removably supported thereby; the saidunderstructure'icomprising leg members, two parallelrail members securedto said leg members, atable pivotally mounted upon and between said-railmembers; locking means releasably, securing; said table;- to oneof saidrail members, whereby the table may be held fixed relative to. the railmembers,,-and

guiding elements secured toeaclr of said leg;

members and spaced above said rail members; the superstructurecomprising a base portion and an upper supporting portion connectedthereto, said base portion being slidably disposed upon said railmembers and in underlying slidable engagement with said guidingelements, whereby the said superstructure is supported by and inslidable inter-engagement with the said understructure.

2. In a convertible article of furniture, an understructure and asuperstructure removably supported thereby; the said understructurecomprising leg members, two parallel rail members secured to said legmembers and having their forward portions bent into arcuate andrearwardly extending sections to form hand gripping loops, a tablepivotally mounted upon and between said rail members and revolvable forhorizonta'l and inclined positioning, l lockingmeans: releasablysecuring said table to the said rear- Wardlyextending section of at.leastone of's'aid loops; for holding the table in an inclined position;and'guiding elements securedto eachof said leg members and spaced abovesaid rail members; the superstructurecomprising abase portion anda-nupper supporting portion conne'cted' thereto; said base portion beingslidably disposed upon said rail membersand -in under lyingsl'idableengagement with said guiding elements; whereby the said superstructureis sup ported by'and in slidable inter-engagement with thesaidunderstructure. r

3'; In a convertible article-of furniture,- the com-- binationaccording" to claim- 2, characterized by the foremost edge ofsaidtab-le.

4. In a convertible articleof furniture, an un-- derstructureand asuperstructure removablysurr ported thereby; the said understructure'compris-' ing leg members; two parallel rail members secured tosaidlegmembers and *having at their positioning with both oppositesidesadapted' to be upwardly disposed, said gripping loops each having a"downwardly and a rearW-ardly extendin'g sect-ion; locking meansreleasablysecuring" the ta'ble'withfront and rear'portionsof 'at' leastone of said rail members and'wit'h air-least oneofsaid rearwardlyextending:sectionsthereof; andguiding elements secured to each of saidleg members and spaced above said rail members;

the-superstructure comprising a base portion andan upper supportingportion" connected-*thereto;

said base portion" being" slid-ably -disposed upom said rail membersandin underlying slidable e'n--- agement= with saidguidingelements;wherebythe saidsuperst'ru'cture is 'suppO-rted by andslidable inter-engagementwith the said under-"- st'ructurei 5: In aconvertiblearticle"offiirniturei arr un-'-- ders'tructure-and' a superstructure removablysup-' p-orted thereby; thesaid understruetu-re comprisin'g leg memberstwospacedrail -mernbers- "secured-t0 saidleg members and comprisingparallelrails; front gripplngloops with downwardly" andrearwa-rdlyextendingsections-'and 'a rear bar" connecting said rails,tablepivotally 'mounted and with at least oneofsa-id rearwardlyextend-*ing sections thereof, and guiding elements secured to each of said legmembers and spaced above said rail members; the superstructurecomprising a base portion and an upper supporting portion connectedthereto, said base portion being slidably disposed upon said railmembers and in underlying slidable engagement with said guidingelements, whereby the said superstructure is supported by and inslidable inter-engagement with the said understructure.

6. In a convertible article of furniture, the combination according toclaim 1, characterized by the leg members extending above said railmembers, the base of the superstructure being in slidable engagementwith the inner portions of said leg members. 7

7. In a convertible article of furniture, an

ufiderstructure and a superstructure i-emovably supported thereby; thesaid understructure comprising leg members, two parallel rail memberssecured to said leg members, a table pivotally mounted upon and betweensaid rail members, said table being revolvable for horizontal andinclined positioning with both opposite sides adapted to be upwardlydisposed, the uppermost portions of said rail members are above thelevel of either side of the table when said table is horizontallydisposed, locking means releasably securing said table to one of saidrail members, whereby the table may be held fixed relative to the railmembers, and guiding elements secured to each of said leg members andspaced above said rail members; th superstructure comprising a baseportion and an upper supporting portion connected thereto, said baseportion being slidably disposed upon said rail members and in underlyingslidable engagement with said guiding elements, whereby the saidsuperstructure is supported by and in slidable inter-engagement with thesaid understructure, and spaced above the table when it is in ahorizontal position.

8. In a convertible article of furniture, the combination according toclaim 2, characterized by said leg members comprising two front and tworear legs and lateral bars connecting the front and rear legs, said barsbeing disposed above said rail members, said guiding elements extendinginwardly from said lateral bars, said rearwardly extending sections ofsaid gripping loops intersecting and being secured to said two frontlegs.

9. In a convertible article of furniture, an understructure and asuperstructure removably supported thereby; the said understructurecomprising leg members, two parallel rail members secured to said legmembers and having at their forward portions hand gripping loops, atable pivotally mounted upon and between said rail members andrevolvable for horizontal and inclined positioning with both oppositesides adapted to be upwardly disposed, said gripping loops each having adownwardly and a rear- Wardly extending section, a retractable lockingmember adjacent an edge of said table, apertured portions on front andrear portions of the rail member adjacent said edge and on therearwardly extending section of said rail member, said locking memberbeing operatively engageable with said apertured portions, and guidingelements secured thereto and spaced above said rail members; thesuperstructure comprising a base portion and an upper supporting portionconnected thereto, said base portion being slidably disposed upon saidrail members and in underlying slidable engagement with said guidingelements, whereby the said superstructure is supported by and inslidable inter-engagement with the said understructure.

10. In a convertible article of furniture, the combination according toclaim 5, and a spring loaded retractable elongated stop elementextending vertically through one of said rails and the said base portionof the superstructure, whereby the latter is releasably held againstmovement.

11. In a convertible article of furniture, an understructure and a.superstructure removably supported thereby; the said understructurecomprising leg members, two spaced rail members secured to said legmembers and comprising parallel rails, front gripping loops withdownwardly and rearwardly extending sections and a rear b Connectingsaid rails, a table pivotally mounted upon and between said rails andforwardly of said bar, said table being revolvable for horizontal andinclined positioning with both opposite sides adapted to be upwardlydisposed, locking means releasably securing the table with front andrear portions of at least one of said rails and with at least one ofsaid rearwardly extending sections, and guiding elements secured theretoand spaced above said rail members; the superstructure comprising a baseportion and an upper supporting portion connected thereto, said baseportion being slidably disposed upon said rail members and in underlyingslidable engagement with said guiding elements, whereby the saidsuperstructure is supported by and in slidable inter-engagement with thesaid understructure, said upper supporting portion having at the frontthereof two upper hand gripping loops extending downwardly andrearwardly, the rearwardly extending portionforming lateral bars wherebyan article of furniture may be secured thereon.

HYMAN POLLACK. DAVID BRAND.

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